Cisco is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Astrix Security, an Israeli cybersecurity startup, in a deal valued somewhere between $250 million and $350 million.
The potential acquisition, first reported by The Information, seems to be driven by the security risks that come with deploying AI agents at scale.
Founded in 2021 by Alon Jackson and Idan Gour, both veterans of Israel's elite Unit 8200 intelligence unit, Astrix has built its platform around the concept of ‘non-human identities’ (NHIs).
In plain terms, these are the API keys, service accounts, OAuth tokens, and machine credentials that AI agents and automated processes rely on to operate inside corporate environments.
As AI agent adoption accelerates, the volume of these identities is growing fast, and most organizations still have very limited visibility into what those agents are actually doing once embedded in their systems.
In discussing the news, Alon Jackson, CEO of Astrix Security, said:
“Many organizations want to integrate AI into every aspect of their work, but they need robust security.
“Our platform ensures that AI agents are not only effective but also secure and properly managed.”
Where Contact Centers Come In
Jackson’s statement carries particular weight for the CX space.
AI agents are now routinely deployed across customer service environments to handle inquiries, process refunds, update account records, and route complex cases.
To perform any of those tasks, they need access to CRM platforms, ticketing systems, and knowledge bases – and that means permissions and credentials that can, if left unmanaged, become serious vulnerabilities.
The risks Astrix targets will sound familiar to those considering AI governance in a contact center context.
Below are some of the main issues surrounding contact center AI agents: